Black-owned businesses are on the rise and are proving to be more popular than ever.

The number of Black-owned businesses is up 38 percent from pre-pandemic levels. This is also coupled with an increased outpouring of consumer support for Black-owned businesses. Between May 25 and July 10, 2020, searches for Black-owned businesses increased 7,043 percent over the same period in 2019. This signifies a shift in the consumer mindset, with shoppers placing greater value on buying from companies owned by minority founders. 

Of the various Black-owned companies to emerge in recent years, many are creating positive change with innovative foods and initiatives that give back to their communities.

Read on to discover some Black-owned food brands we love. All of these companies are committed to producing high-quality, unique products while also making a positive impact on the industry at large.

1. Partake Foods

Are you looking for delicious and allergy-friendly food options? Look no further than Partake Foods. Founded by Denise Woodard after discovering her daughter’s multiple food allergies, Partake offers a variety of cookies and foods that are certified gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, and free of the top nine allergens.

Partake is committed to food inclusivity and helping food-insecure families. The company partners with organizations like No Kid Hungry to provide access to safe food. As a Black and Asian American woman, Woodward has a passion for raising awareness around female and black entrepreneurship, helping to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups in the food and beverage industry. In 2020, Woodward founded the Black Futures in Food & Beverage initiative, a yearly fellowship program that mentors HBCU students and helps them secure internships and jobs at the program’s end. If you’re looking for a delicious, safe, and allergy-friendly food option, Partake is worth checking out.

2. Creamalicious Ice Cream

Chef Liz Rogers is the founder of Creamalicious Ice Cream, a brand that celebrates Southern comfort food through innovative and delicious ice cream flavors. The brand is woman-owned and minority-led. Chef Rogers has a diverse culinary team and makes it a point to work with minority and female-owned businesses. Her recipes are based on those passed down from four generations in the South, and the stories behind them evoke feelings of warmth and nostalgia.

Creamalicious Ice Creams’ flavors are unique, fun, and delicious, and the company has been featured in the media for its inspiring work within the community. With Creamalicious Ice Cream now available nationwide, and one of the only Black-owned ice cream companies in mass production, Rogers is looking forward to sharing her love of Southern cuisine with everyone. If you’re looking for a brand that celebrates diversity and delicious, innovative Southern comfort food, Creamalicious Ice Cream is worth a taste.

3. A Dozen Cousins

A Dozen Cousins is a Black-owned healthy sauce-based food brand. Growing up, the founder’s childhood kitchen was constantly a tasty melting pot of Caribbean, Creole, and Latin American cooking. This inspired Ibraheem Basir to create a line of products that would reflect his family’s heritage and promote healthy, natural eating. A Dozen Cousins is dedicated to encouraging families of all backgrounds to eat better food and live longer, more vibrant lives.

A Dozen Cousins exists to provide healthy and affordable food options to families of all backgrounds. They are proud to be a Black-owned health food brand that believes good food is essential to a healthy life. They are committed to reversing the trend of diet-related illnesses in underserved communities. To help change the trend of diet-related illnesses in the U.S., the company provides grant and volunteer support to non-profit organizations working to eliminate socioeconomic health disparities.

4. Ghetto Gastro

Ghetto Gastro is a culinary collective of chefs bringing favors from New York’s Bronx neighborhood to the world. The company was founded in 2012 by John Gray, Lester Walker, Marquis Hayes, and Malcolm Livingston II, with Pierre Serrao joining shortly after. In 2018, they collaborated with Marvel Studios to present Taste of Wakanda at New York Fashion Week to celebrate the promotion of Black Panther. In 2019, they opened Labyrinth 1.1 space on the north shore of the Harlem River in the Bronx.

The Ghetto Gastro collective teamed up with La Morada restaurant, which specializes in Oaxacan cuisine, and Rethink Food non-profit that distributed free meals during the George Floyd protests for Black Lives Matter, where they served over 35,000 meals to protesters. What makes Ghetto Gastro so unique is its dedication to bringing healthy foods to both the Black community and the world at large. Their style, culture, and health-driven focus make them one of the top Black-owned healthy food brands we love.

5. Iya Foods

Iya Foods is a Black-owned food company that creates delicious and nutritious gluten-free foods. The company is committed to using better ingredients, sourcing its products from local farmers, and helping to end childhood hunger. They are also environmentally sustainable and use practices that reduce waste and preserve our planet.

Iya Foods offers innovative products like African superfoods, which are gluten-free, non-GMO, and are free from preservatives and additives. They have a variety of recipes that include these superfoods, which add flavor and nutrition to everyday foods. Iya Foods is an excellent brand to add to your pantry because they provide quality foods, are environmentally responsible, and are committed to giving back.

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